Oriel Glyn Davies Gallery - Art Photography, Prints and Images of Anglesey, Snowdonia, Wales and Cornwall plus kids and family portraits

2009 4-27th April Cardiff August 1 - September 5 Bangor	"Nant Gwrtheyrn: The Enchantment - Y Swyngyfaredd" - NEW BOOK & EXHIBITION - A photographic exploration by artist Glyn Davies On Saturday 4th April 2009 at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, landscape photo-artist, Glyn Davies of Menai Bridge, launched his latest fine-art photography book, together with a sizeable exhibition of large format prints of many of the images featured. Here is our own video from the launch night. In order of appearance: Bet Davies, Head of Press & Public Relations at the WMC; Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas - Presiding Officer of the National Assembly of Wales Dr Carl Clowes - Founder & President of Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh Language Centre Glyn Davies - The artist and author of The Enchantment Carol Mead (Able Creations) - Poet, and Glyn's wife :-) The exhibition comprises 43 large format prints. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO The exhibition will also be shown in North Wales at the Gwynedd Museum Art Gallery, Bangor between Saturday August 1st and Saturday 5th September 2009. For Glyn Davies, the lost valley of Nant Gwrtheyrn, hidden away on The Llyn Peninsula, on the north-west coast of Wales, was a place of mysterious childhood memories. Then he met Dr Carl Clowes, whose work in the 1970s helped turn the deserted granite-quarrying village into a centre for Welsh language and culture. Their initial co-operation on the production of an illustrated guide-book became, for Glyn, the catalyst for a far more extensive project taking more than six months to complete. Nant’s human history goes back at least two thousand years; this collection marks yet another period, on the cusp of the next stage in the village’s development. This collection of images is essentially one man’s response to the many facets of this enchanting valley. Glyn’s rediscovery of Nant Gwrtheyrn and his photographic exploration of it, decades after his first visit, have been a complete revelation for him. As he recounts, it has meant a ‘sense of past’, solitude and spiritual awareness. It has dramatically influenced his response to landscape, history, cultural identity and language. If you know Nant Gwrtheyrn, you have almost certainly fallen under its spell. If this is your first contact with it as more than a name, Glyn’s rich and personal images, even more eloquently than his words, will draw you to it. "Apart from the immediate important significance of Nant in terms of language and cultural development, to me as a landscape artist, it is an awesome place. I am fascinated, intrigued, inspired and moved by the drama of the landscape, with mountains cascading down to rough seas below, but also by the tenacity and ingenuity of man's industrial use of that landscape. Almost wherever you wander you stumble across remnants of a once-thriving quarrying industry, old trucks, railways, engines and pulleys, scattered adjacent to metal-badged stark concrete buildings rattling in strong winds. In the relative lushness of the valley, the tidy but austere, once derelict village of Nant Gwrtheyrn nestles itself back into the trees behind, its front exposed to all the heaviness of the weather thrown at it. From inside, through the sash windows, you can hear the wind in the trees and the distant roar of the sea. There is no television, no radio and even your mobile phone has no reception. It's an historic place with an eerie but nevertheless welcoming feel. This project focuses on my emotional response to, and spiritual gain from, such a landscape of duality, light & dark, soft & hard, old & new, welcoming & foreboding, nature & industry all of course ultimately linked to the history, language & culture of the people who once lived here, and those who now utilize this amazing place" For more information about the exhibition, venue, directions and opening times, please contact the relevant venue directly: Wales Millennium Centre: 02920 636400 or by e-mail on secretarial@wmc.org.uk. Website: http://www.wmc.org.uk Oriau agor / Opening hours: Llun - Gwener / Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sadwrn & Sul / Sat & Sun: 11am - 5pm Gwynedd Museum Art Gallery: 01248 353368 or by e-mail on amgueddfa@gwynedd.gov.uk Oriau agor / Opening hours: Mawrth – Gwener/Tuesday – Friday 12.30 - 4.30; Sadwrn/Saturday 10.30 - 4.30 "Nant Gwrtheyrn; The Enchantment – Y Swyngyfaredd" - PURCHASE HERE Published by Glyn Davies Photo-Artist Ltd ISBN: 9780955700323 Hardback: 246x246mm 152 pages 71 main plates.
2008 4-26th October	"Davies, Davies, Davies & Davies" Ucheldre Gallery, Holyhead TWO pairs of brothers, from TWO generations - DAU bâr o frodyr, o DDWY genhedlaeth Gareth, Dyfed, Glyn & Simon Davies (click here for video introduction to show) This joint exhibition features the work of four artists from the same Welsh family. Each works in a different medium - including sculpture, painting, drawing and photography - to express ideas, emotions and observations. For two of the artists, this is their first exhibition in many years, but the work they have been producing in their own time is both powerful and thought-provoking. ~ Dyry’r gyd-arddangosfa hon sylw i waith pedwar arlunydd o’r un teulu o Gymru. Gweithia pob un ohonynt mewn cyfrwng gwahanol - gan gynnwys cerfluniaeth, paentio, dylunio a ffotograffiaeth - i fynegi syniadau, emosiynau a sylwadau. I ddau o’r artistiaid, dyma eu harddangosfa gyntaf ers sawl blwyddyn, ond mae’r gwaith y buont yn ei gynhyrchu yn eu hamser eu hunain yn rymus ac yn broc i’r meddwl hefyd.
2008 July til September	"The Enchantment" New Exhibition, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Lleyn "Y Swyngyfaredd" Arddangosfa Newydd, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Lleyn These images are from a new art project I started back in February this year, about this amazing, beautiful, surreal and resurrected village of Nant Gwrtheyrn. An original discussion with founder of the Nant Gwrtheyrn trust, Dr Carl Clowes resulted in an open-ended, completely personal brief which has now been extended throughout 2008. A much larger exhibition to launch a new 50-60 image art book about Y Nant, is planned for March 2009. The book will be on sale at Y Nant and also here online. Daw'r delweddau hyn o brosiect celf newydd a ddechreuais i ym mis Chwefror eleni, ynghylch y pentref, rhyfeddol, hardd, swrrealaidd, atgyfodedig hwn, Nant Gwrtheyrn. O drafodaeth gychwynnol â sefydlydd ymddiriedolaeth Nant Gwrtheyrn, y Dr Carl Clowes, deilliodd maes gorchwyl penagored, hollol bersonol, sydd erbyn hyn wedi ymestyn i barhau trwy gydol 2008. Bwriedir cynnal arddangosfa lawer mwy ym mis Mawrth 2009, i lansio llyfr celf ynghylch y Nant a fydd yn cynnwys 50-60 o luniau. Bydd y llyfr ar werth yn y Nant, a hefyd ar lein yma. Apart from the immediate important significance of Nant in terms of language and cultural development, to me as a landscape artist, it is an awesome place. I am fascinated, intrigued, inspired and moved by the drama of the landscape, with mountains cascading down to rough seas below, but also by the tenacity and ingenuity of man's industrial use of that landscape. Almost wherever you wander you stumble across remnants of a once-thriving quarrying industry, old trucks, railways, engines and pulleys, scattered adjacent to metal-badged stark concrete buildings rattling in strong winds. In the relative lushness of the valley, the tidy but austere, once derelict village of Nant Gwrtheyrn nestles itself back into the trees behind, its front exposed to all the heaviness of the weather thrown at it. Inside, through sash windows you can hear the sounds of the wind in the trees and the distant roar of the sea. There is no television, no radio and even your mobile phone has no reception. It's an historic place with an eerie but nevertheless welcoming feel. This project focuses on my emotional response to, and spiritual gain from, such a landscape of duality, light & dark, soft & hard, old & new, welcoming & foreboding, nature & industry all of course ultimately linked to the history, language & culture of the people who once lived here, and those who now utilize this amazing place. I am very excited by this project and am always impatient to get back here!
2008 March	"Recent Works" - 2008 Ist Quarter Release The first release of Glyn's new work in 2008 took place on Saturday 15th March at his Gallery in Menai Bridge. These images were all limited editions and were all new images produced since the release of the Anglesey Landscapes book in November 2007. There are only around three or four releases of latest work each year now. Some examples are shown below. It has been described as my 'moody period' ! :-))
2007 May	"Isles Apart / Ynysoedd Ar Wahân" - Major show at the Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead, Anglesey Isles Apart is a collection of personal, visual fascinations. The photographs were taken on just a few of the islands I’ve visited, from the Azores and the Canaries, to Malta & Greece, but also including our own beautiful Ynys Môn. I have always been fascinated by islands with their finite perimeters of coastline, and being surrounded by sea. The distances between these geographical wonders have highlighted huge variations of topography and human influence. This is not a tourist guide to these islands, more of an artist’s awareness of the visual similarities between isles thousands of miles apart! To see more of these images and also give you a chance to comment, please visit the following BBC web-site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/arts/pages/glyndavies.shtml
2006 June 7th til July 2nd	"Latest Works" - New exhibition for the Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre, Conwy A new exhibition of work has gone up in this fantastically located Gothic house (actually 16th Century to Victorian) at the top of the Sychnant Pass. It is the centre of the Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre which "works with local naturalists to record and safeguard the wildlife and natural beauty of Wales". The Pensychnant Foundation is a registered charity and 30% of all picture sales go to the charity. Seven of Glyn's large format limited editions have been erected along with 10 of his smaller A3 images including some previously unseen works. For further information on the centre please contact the warden Julian Thompson on +44 (0) 1492 592595 or visit the website www.pensychnant.fsnet.co.uk
2006 April 8th	Private View - New body of work showing at the Glyn Davies Gallery On Saturday 8th April, around 60 people turned up for the private view of a new body of work printed especially for the Anglesey Arts Weeks 2006. A small exhibition of work produced by Glyn's father Gareth Davies was also officially unveiled at this opening. Several images were sold on the first night from both artists and others have been purchased within the three days since.
2006 Feb 26th	Glyn's talk for Adobe at NEC a great success! On Sunday 26th February 2006, Glyn was asked to give two talks for the international software giant - Adobe®, at Focus on Imaging, the national trade show at the NEC in Birmingham. Glyn talked about his work and his latest exhibitions and then gave a demonstration about how he uses PhotoShop® within his digital workflow. The 'open theatre' soon had a large crowd of about 80 people listening in for a whole hour to Glyn's rationale and tips on usage and he received a warm ovation after each session, followed by two really interesting question and answer sessions aftwerwards. There is a possibility of Glyn becoming involved with further talks for other digital imaging companies, watch this space! (Picture Credit: Jonathan Briggs)
2005 Nov 05 'til Feb 06	"Salt 'n Ships" - Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, Wirral. An exhibition of maritime drawings and photographs by two professional Welsh artists. Gareth and Glyn Davies, father and son, teamed up to create a collection of work based around the boats, ships, seascapes and harbours of the West coast of Britain, especially Wales, Cornwall and Lancashire. (gallery panoramic pic: Simon Davies)
2005 July	"Celtic Connections" - Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff - See previous entry for Oriel Ynys Môn. Image: "Floating on Bottle Green"
2005 March/April	"Celtic Connections" - This solo photographic exhibition - the first professional photographer’s show to be held in the Oriel Ynys Môn Gallery on Anglesey, juxtaposes dramatic images of Penwith in Cornwall with gentler images of Anglesey. The pictures show that these two ancient Celtic lands have as many similarities as differences, and that there are still places and times to experience a sense of wilderness or solitude and equally, moments to simply stand in awe. Glyn delivering opening speech at the Celtic Connections private view. In the background is John Wynne Jones, guest speaker, and Arts Officer, Nicola Gibson.
2004	"Stunning Views", Dafydd Hardy Gallery, Caernarfon - This show comprises the work of two photographers, Glyn Davies BA(Hons) AOP and Dr Stewart Campbell from the Art Photo Wales.com on-line print library business based in Menai Bridge. The photographs are a selection from their recent exhibition, “Lasting Impressions” at Penrhyn Castle. This was a tribute to a friend of theirs, Jan Barnes, who sadly died of cancer last year.
2004	"Lasting Impressions" - Penrhyn Castle, In loving memory of a great friend, Jan Barnes. This was an unusual photographic exhibition showing the work of three photographers. The show is a special tribute to one of the three, Jan Barnes, who sadly died of cancer just a year previously in June 2003. At her funeral I promised that her work would not be forgotten and that she would once again have her beautiful images exhibited.
2002	"Shot in the Country, Hung in Beaumaris" - An exhibition of his and students landscape work at the Canolfan Beaumaris Leisure Centre
2001	“A Family Affair” - Ucheldre Centre and Art Gallery, Holyhead A joint exhibition of drawings, photographs and paintings, by three artists from the same family, Diana, Gareth and Glyn Davies.
2001	“SUN 2001” – Shot up North Competition – Three images accepted. Judge for North Wales Open Photographic Competition, Oriel Ynys Môn. Solo exhibition “Recent Landscapes”, Canolfan Beaumaris Gallery
2000	Exhibition of winning entries from SUN 2000 Competition (The show toured Leeds, Manchester, London & Nottingham) “SUN 2000” – Shot up North Competition – Two images accepted.
1999	Public exhibition of Youth Workshop images at Oriel Mostyn Gallery.
1996	Two images in “New Members” show at the AOP Gallery, London Joint exhibition of Personal Landscapes, Caernarfon Gallery Solo exhibition - “Welsh TV & Music Personalities” Theatre Gwynedd
1993	Solo portrait exhibition “Facing the Light 2”, Caernarfon Gallery Joint exhibition of personal landscapes "2+2" - Bangor Art Gallery Solo exhibition “Facing the Light”, Canolfan Beaumaris Gallery
1991	Solo exhibition of commercial images - Pendeitsh Gallery, Caernarfon Solo exhibition of personal work, Canolfan Beaumaris Gallery
1986	Solo exhibition in the Royal Festival Hall London on behalf of the London Cycling Campaign

Exhibitions